A Message From Our Founder

I never set out to be an entrepreneur. In fact, I grew up wanting to be a pilot because I had an uncle in the Nigerian Air Force. I never thought about teaching either. Very few in my community did. But that all changed because before anything else, I’m a parent.

When I struggled to find a suitable education for my kids, it quickly spiraled into the realization that this is a global problem. One that’s not slowing down.

In my search for answers I was brought back to so many of the things I witnessed growing up. The lack of teachers isn’t random. It’s systemic. Many teachers aren’t adequately trained or compensated, which impacts the quality of their teaching and the confidence they have in the community. This impacts the perception of the profession, leading to fewer people wanting to pursue it. It’s a vicious cycle, but it’s one that can be changed. 

For me, all the statistics about the global teacher shortage are personal. But what began as a family mission has grown beyond what I could have ever imagined. I’m so incredibly grateful for the support of every person and organization that has been part of this journey, and in particular, I’m grateful for our global teaching community. They’ve made it easy to re-affirm that what we’re building is critical. 

Every time we release a new module, it’s followed by the request for more. Our teachers are eager to support one another and to bring their skills beyond the classroom and into their communities. The global teacher shortage can feel insurmountable, but everyday it’s them who prove it’s possible. 

We’ve come a long way but really, we’ve only just begun. Whatever part you’ve played in this journey, thank you. 

– Hakeem Subair

CEO & Founder, 1 Million Teachers